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'Can't believe it': Golf world in shock over 'unreal' moment

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·3-min read
Zach Johnson, pictured here draining an outrageous putt at the US Open.
Zach Johnson drained an absurd putt in the opening round of the US Open. Image: PGA

Zach Johnson produced the putt of the year on Thursday as the US Open kicked off at Winged Foot in New York.

The notoriously tough course claimed some major scalps in the opening round, most notably Tiger Woods who capitulated late to finish eight shots behind leader Justin Thomas.

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And Johnson showed just how insane some of the greens are playing with an outrageous birdie on the par-3 first hole.

The American realised that he was zero chance of navigating the undulating green if he hit a conventional putt, so decided to hammer the ball way past the hole.

Johnson hit his putt right and past the hole, letting the slope carry the ball straight back into the cup.

Johnson put his hands on his head in disbelief as his playing partners also looked gobsmacked.

The PGA’s official Twitter account described the putt as ‘unreal’, while fans were frothing on social media.

Justin Thomas on fire early at US Open

Former USPGA champion Thomas took the early lead at the US Open, shooting a superb five-under-par 65 to sit one shot ahead of Patrick Reed, Thomas Pieters and Matthew Wolff.

Thomas sunk a 25-metre putt on the 18th hole for birdie at Winged Foot to take a one stroke advantage.

Reed’s round included a double bogey and a hole in one - the 46th in the US Open's 120-year history and only the third at the notoriously difficult New York State course.

Thomas had one bogey and six birdies, including three in a row over the 9th, 10th and 11th holes.

Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods, pictured here during the opening round of the US Open.
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods look on during the opening round of the US Open. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The world No.3 was playing with Woods, who also birdied three straight holes while making the turn but then finished up with three bogeys and a double in the last six holes.

Reed salvaged his round after taking a double-bogey on the fifth hole.

He rallied with a birdie on No.6 and then one-hopped his tee shot into the cup for a hole in one on the seventh.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy shot five over par to win the last US Open at the venue in 2006, while American Hale Irwin was seven over in surviving the so-called “Massacre at Winged Foot” in 1974.

with AAP